group marriage: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “group marriage” mean?
A marital arrangement where multiple men are married to multiple women simultaneously, forming a collective family unit.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A marital arrangement where multiple men are married to multiple women simultaneously, forming a collective family unit.
Any form of marriage involving more than two partners, often as a culturally sanctioned practice within certain communities or as a conceptual term in anthropology and sociology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The term is used identically.
Connotations
Associated with academic study of non-Western cultures, historical practices, or alternative relationship structures.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to specialist discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “group marriage” in a Sentence
The [community/nation] practiced group marriage.Group marriage was common among the [tribe/people].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “group marriage” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The tribe would group-marry to strengthen alliances. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- They sought to group-marry under their community's new laws. (rare, non-standard)
adverb
British English
- They lived group-married for decades. (extremely rare, non-standard)
American English
- The community was organised group-mariedly. (extremely rare, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- The group-marriage system was documented by early explorers.
American English
- They studied group-marriage practices in their anthropology class.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Central term in anthropology for classifying marriage systems; used in cross-cultural studies.
Everyday
Rarely used; might appear in discussions about alternative lifestyles or historical documentaries.
Technical
Precise term in ethnography and kinship studies to denote a specific form of plural marriage.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “group marriage”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “group marriage”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “group marriage”
- Using it interchangeably with 'polyamory' (which describes emotional relationships, not necessarily sanctioned marriage).
- Assuming it is a common or contemporary legal practice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a legally recognised form of marriage, it is extremely rare in the modern world. Some religious or communal groups may practice it socially, but it lacks legal standing in most countries.
Group marriage implies a formal, often culturally sanctioned, marital union between multiple individuals. Polyamory refers to having multiple consensual romantic relationships, which may or may not involve a formal or legal marriage structure.
No, it is a noun compound. Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to group-marry') is non-standard and very rare.
Yes, certain Native American tribes, such as the Plains Indians, and some early utopian communities like the Oneida Community in the 19th century, practiced forms of group or communal marriage.
A marital arrangement where multiple men are married to multiple women simultaneously, forming a collective family unit.
Group marriage is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Group marriage: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡruːp ˈmær.ɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡruːp ˈmer.ɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'group' project, but for marriage—multiple partners working as one family unit.
Conceptual Metaphor
MARRIAGE IS A SOCIAL CONTRACT (extended to a multi-party contract).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'group marriage' primarily used?